.... and also with Y'all

Because of the unforeseen circumstance of my grandmother’s passing, this announcement has been expedited and is happening a little differently than I would have liked.  But oh well I guess that is how life goes, and while this isn’t the best time, it is still good news.   I have been asked and have agreed to extend my time in Liverpool for a second year.  I am extremely excited about this and about continuing the work that I have been doing.  What this also means is that I will be returning home for a few weeks.  This time is meant for vacation but also to raise money for my second year.  Originally the plan was that I would come home in July, but with my grandmother’s funeral being this next Tuesday, it makes sense for everyone, if I take my ‘time home’ at the same time.  So what does this mean.  Well I am happy that my time has been extended, happy that I get some time at home, nervous about fundraising again, and sad about the circums...

So, here we are.  I have been in Liverpool for almost two months now and it is incredible.  I don't think that I will ever get over the size and beauty of the cathedral.  It is magnificent.  Everyone here has been wonderful. They are so excited that we are here and have welcomed us with open arms.  This post is about something that I have been thinking about for a while and I hope will answer some questions a few of you may have.  Hopefully another post will be out soonish, regarding all of the interesting things we have done/seen and all of the fun I have been having while working here. Before I left and since I’ve been here the same question seems to keep popping up. Why is a missionary in a first world country? England doesn’t really seem like the first place someone thinks of when they think of a missionary.  I have had a lot of people ask me why I was sent to Liverpool.  They have running water and traffic lights, and the church seems ...

Here I am! I have officially been in Liverpool for a week.  How crazy is that?  So much has happened that I can't wait to share with you all.  Right now I just wanted to give a quick update that I am happy and safe.  Everyone here has been wonderful.  They are all so excited and want to do anything that they can to help.  Tonight the house was blessed by the Bishop and we celebrated with him and others who have played a role in this community becoming what it is.  For now here are some pictures of my room, the view from my window, and a couple other miscellaneous things. Like always I would love to hear from you all and I appreciate all of the prayers and support.  Look back soon for a newer, longer post about how these first days have gone and where I will go from here.  Thanks!!! The inside of my room after it was mostly unpacked the other half of my room Liverpool Cathedral I am lucky enough to live on Cathedral Property so I...

First and foremost here is a more logistical update: I will be departing for Liverpool around September 10th-12th.  Once I am there I will be working with the Diocese, Cathedral, and St. Luke’s Church with a focus on social justice, church in an urban context, leading small groups, families and children in a parish, and fundraising.  These updates are so exciting and as my departure date gets closer and closer the reality of the amazing work I will be doing sinks in even more. On a totally different note, I have been trying to figure out what to say for my next blog post.  I’ve worked on one for a while but it still doesn’t feel quite ready.  So while that post simmers on the back burner I’ll turn to something else that I think plays an important part in my decision to go on this journey.   Our personal history does not define us but it it does have a lasting effect.  Middle school religion class is not something that most people might identify a...

So I'm cooking dinner tonight for the family! It's gonna taste awesome, but at the moment I am waiting for my sauce to thicken. So while my cooking is put on pause I thought I'd pause in my personal story and introduce you to the rest of the 2016 Young Adult Service Corps. I just finished spending two weeks at Holy Cross Monastery with these amazing people and even though we will be going to different places I know that they will all be there to support me whenever I need it. I guess the best way to do this is to just pick one and start. Mitch and Eli are both going to Haiti! Mitch will be teaching English and will be a boss at it. He is a hard worker who wants to understand as much as he can about something and asks questions that don’t even occur to me. He is comfortable to fly solo when he needs to but makes any group that he is a part of that much more fun. He and Eli will be together in Haiti but won't be doing the same work. Eli, who doesn't have a mea...

It's happening! It’s actually happening! Here I am writing a post for my YASC blog.  Somehow this adds a new element of reality to it all.  As of today I have known my placement for a week.  For those of you I haven't had the pleasure of telling yet, I will be spending the upcoming year in Liverpool, England working with the Liverpool Cathedral and Liverpool Parish Church.  That's just about all I know right now but I still could not be more excited to go and serve! I spend so much time stressing out about not knowing but now I realize that the timing could not have been better.  I have been at the beach with my family for the past few days and having this time to fully process what this means has been a blessing.  I’ve been able to sit down and reflect on how I feel about what is coming, and then sit down a day later and think about it again with a new perspective.  There is this odd mixture of calm, excitement, and fear that I have been living in fo...